In a lot of ways we can be like “little children.” We want what we want, when we want it. We will not take “no” for an answer. We dig in our heels. We can become very stubborn. That is, until we get what we want!
“Are we there yet?”
“I want that!”
“Gimme that!” “That’s mine!” Those expressions are not just for children anymore!
We can beg, cajole, bug, be bothersome, be annoying, be pushy and be persistent…with the best of them! (All in an effort to get our own way… all in order to get what we want!) We can even be deceptive! Sometimes, very deceptive!
I tell you, we can be something else!
We can be just as “sly as a fox” or as “mischievous as any child” – when our goal “is in sight”…when we “know” what we want.
Once we are “focused,” world look out!
We can be relentless, daunting and unrelenting.
The “whining widow” and the “needy-borrowing neighbor at midnight” – have nothing over on us!
We too, would be there pounding and pounding and pounding some more…
And if we had to – we would go from neighbor to neighbor until we got what we wanted. Waking them all up!!!!
You had better believe – we would make sure, that everyone in the household would be awakened, including any animals. If only the dog would bark…and keep on barking! That would be great!
We are more than capable of becoming “persistent whiners.” We allow things to gnaw and chip away at us…we know we will be victorious and ultimately get what we want.
Like the “whining widow” with her “shrillness of voice” – we too would persistently seek out and find “that judge” at the main gate of the city. We would wait him out! We would stalk him. We could be his worst nightmare-come true.
We would be there in the early morning hours as he comes into the city. We would be there at noon time, should he decide to leave his chambers.
We will follow him wherever he goes…
And you had better believe we will be there at nighttime when he leaves the city and returns to his home.
And, if we have to – we will even follow him home!
We will wait him out. We will be there. Camp out, if necessary. Morning, noon and night. We will be persistent. We will be relentless.
“If” it is important to us, he must understand – that it is going to be important for him, as well.
He will be happy to get us off his back.
He will be pleasantly surprised when he is not hounded any longer.
He will breathe a sigh of relief!
We will whine (if need be) to that judge – to support our case “against our accuser.” We will be unrelenting. We will be constant. We will lean on that judge, night and day, if we have to.
We will not give up – until that judge supports our case – against our accuser.
We know that we are in the right. And we will prove it.
Jesus too, seemed to suggest that this behavior was acceptable when he said, “Ask, seek, knock on God’s door at any time you want to!”
And as Jesus said, “And, so it is—with prayer!”
Keep praying…
Do not stop…
Never give up….
Be constant in prayer…
Be relentless…
Pray and keep praying…
Be persistent!
Be pushy!
Be bothersome!
Knock long…
Knock often…
Keep knocking!
It is not that God does not hear. God is certainly not deaf to our cries. It is certainly not that God does not care. This is more about us, than it is about him. It is about our relationship with him. The important thing is to stay at it…to make your wishes known. Be constant in prayer. Be constant in talking with him. Don’t hold back!
Jesus is suggesting that we talk to God on a regular basis just as he did. Let our wishes, our hopes and our dreams be made known…and do so constantly.
There is nothing…absolutely nothing wrong with asking. There is no shame in asking. Do not hesitate. Do not give up!
Do not stop! But, keep it going, be in a continual – on-going, non-stop relationship with him. Talk to God, as if talking to your best friend…because he is – you know!